I have been cheated out of my life, says distraught mother

More than 7,500 patients received contaminated blood from the NHS during the 70s and 80s

A DYING mother who has battled hepatitis, breast and liver cancer after receiving contaminated blood 40 years ago has demanded justice for the victims of the worst treatment disaster in NHS history.

The 59-year-old who was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer on Monday has been told she has just months to live.
Now she has decided to dedicate the last moments of her life to the Sunday Express tainted blood campaign.
The former driving instructor is among more than 7,500 patients to have received contaminated blood products riddled with deadly diseases in the 1970s and ’80s.
She was infected with hepatitis C after receiving an NHS blood transfusion when she suffered a haemorrhage following the birth of her first son in 1975.
However, she was not diagnosed with the virus until more than 30 years later when she discovered she had also infected one of her children.
Many of the victims were haemophiliacs who were given Factor VIII, a clotting agent.

The mother of six thinks the government is stalling on compensation packages for the victims

The mother of six from Kent, who has asked not to be named, told the News News Blog: “I am just so angry. I feel like I have been cheated out of my life.
“The day I gave birth to my first child was one of the best days of my life but, unbeknown to me then, it also handed me a death sentence.”
The grandmother, who went on to have another five children, received the transfusion in a Southampton hospital. 

The day I gave birth to my first child was one of the best days of my life but, unbeknown to me then, it also handed me a death sentence

But it wasn’t until 2008 that she was finally diagnosed with hepatitis C.
She said: “Of course my first thought was for the children and we immediately got them all tested. We were told the results were negative.
“Some time later I asked to see the test results and I found that in the case of one of my sons, the result that came back was inconclusive, so I asked for that particular blood test to be repeated.
“It came back positive and my world fell apart. As a mother it is my responsibility to nurture and protect my children from harm and I feel so guilty that, through no fault of my own, I gave him a virus that could kill him.”
Her son was 16 at the time and was an aspiring doctor.



Earlier this year, David Cameron apologised to victims of the tainted blood crisis

“He was an A star science pupil but had to give up his GCSEs as it was recommended that he sought immediate treatment and he left school without any formal qualifications.
“He has now almost qualified as a driving instructor and only has one more test before becoming fully qualified.
“But it still breaks my heart that he is not able to do what he wanted to do in life. His dreams have been shattered.”
Although her son is now clear of the virus, he has been told it can return at any time and as a result cannot get a mortgage or life insurance.
His mother said: “It is just devastating to think that his life will continue to be blighted by this scandal long after I am gone.”
The woman, who has also suffered from a toxic thyroid, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis and chronic fatigue, was forced to give up work due to her ill health.
Five years ago her husband also had to give up his HGV driver job to become her full-time carer.
She said: “Every time a bill comes through the letter box it is a worry. We have had to watch every penny for years.

Pamela Anderson claimed that she contracted the hepatitis C virus after sharing tattoo needles

“That is why I am so desperate to see Prime Minister David Cameron deliver a final settlement to the victims of this scandal, so that I can die in peace in the knowledge that my family will be taken care of. However, I fear they are just waiting for us all to die so that they can pay out a reduced settlement to our partners, dependants and other significant family members.
“The Prime Minister needs to do his duty and end this injustice once and for all.
“He needs to stop passing the buck, acknowledge the Government’s role in this scandal and give us back some of the life that has been so cruelly ripped away from us.”
More than 2,000 patients, who received contaminated blood loaded with HIV and hepatitis C, have since died.
Earlier this year, Mr Cameron apologised to the victims on behalf of the Government.
He also committed up to £25million in 2015/16 to support any transitional arrangement to a better payment system for those affected.